Today's Bloodhound is the modern representative of the oldest race of hounds that hunt by scent.
     The Bloodhound can trace a part of its pedigree back to the seventh century, specifically to a breed that was developed by a Frenchman named Francois Hubert. Hubert was a nobleman and an avid hunter. He crossed his big game hunting hounds with Talbot Hounds, which were of the Ardennes region of France. After the death of his wife, he entered the monastery.  He continued to breed his hounds while there, and on occasion, his hounds would be used to locate lost persons.
      After Francois Hubert died, he was canonized as a saint.  St. Hubert is known as the patron saint of the hunter.  The line of hounds that Francois Hubert had developed became known in Central Europe as Chien de St Hubert.
     In the 11th Century, William the Conqueror brought several pairs of these dogs to the British Isles.  They were to be used for the hunting of deer, and this is what the breed was used for for several centuries.  The Chien de St Hubert became known as the Bloodhound not so much because the dog would follow a trail of blood, but rather because it was a dog used exclusively by the noblemen of England.  These noblemen were given the nickname of Blue Bloods because they were of the royal blood line.
     The Bloodhound came to be used as man trailers during the sixteenth century because of the poaching that would sometimes occur on the estates of the noblemen.  They were found to be useful  for the tracking of thieves as well.
     It wasn't until 1805, when the first recorded use of the Bloodhound by law enforcement officials was documented.  Since then the Bloodhound has proven its unerring ability for tracking to the point where the trailing result is acceptable testimony in a court of law.
     In 1885 the Bloodhound was recognized by the A.K.C. in America.
     In 1952 the National Club, the American Bloodhound Club, was formed.  Since then, the Bloodhound has proven its courage and tenacity as a hard working member of Search and Rescue teams, and in Law Enforcement.
     The American Bloodhound Club offers Mantrailing certification.  For their trials each dog goes through an Event Entry Certification Test initially.  Then there are certain qualifications for Mantrailer (MT), Mantrailer Intermediate (MTI), and Mantrailer Excellent (MTX).

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